>confined in cubao. ugh.

2 days ago, my body had a severe allergic reaction to Ging's very delicious sizzling tuna steak with lemon butter. Imagine, if I had just ordered my usual liempo or tocilog (well, I did ask for tocilog, but they only had tapsi.), then this wouldn't have happened!

The scary part was that 3 other officemates from the Probe Team who ate tuna in a different restaurant also got severe allergies, characterized by difficulty in breathing and redness of the skin (pantal!). To be extra safe, I decided to, um, well, vomit everything out. 63 bucks down the toilet, man! And that was soem good tuna steak, too! I was given an injection in the hospital, but compared to everybody else, my pantal wouldn't go away. So the doctors advised me to stay in the hospital for 24 hours. Since they were doctos, I said yes.

Bad move.

I know that we're supposed to trust doctors (Believe me, Colleen, I'd trust you if you were my doctor!), but I never really got to see my REAL doctor, the one on my hospital band that said Alia Andrea Vargas, Dr. Crisostomo. Who was he and WHERE was he? All I saw were the people in the emergency room, a Dennis who made too many jokes about the nurses having to cut up my clothes, and some guy pushing my wheelchair who kept on laughing at Dennis' jokes about the nurses having to cut up my clothes. And the only time this Dr. Crisostomo came was 6pm the next day. I was confined for 26 hours in a private room with no phone, a TV with no remote, and a whole bunch of ipis. Eck.

Actually, I shouldn't complain about Dr. Crisostomo because he had to attend to other emergencies before me. I shouldn't complain about the ipis either because there are patients in other hospitals that are in a much worse condition than World City Med. But I will complain about the other doctors (Or even nurses. Whatever. Don't these med people introduce themselves to patients anymore?).

A certain woman walked in my room with another nurse and just started booming with, "ANO NAMAN ANG KINAIN MO?!?!" Ok. Was she trying to be funny, or does she just talk loud, or does she just talk as if my mother isn't in the room? A little drowsy from the drugs, I said, “Tuna.” "AH, TUNA?" Yes tuna. It should be in the report that you're holding. "AH, OK! SO IT COULD BE AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO TUNA!" Yes, the doctors downstairs have already established that. "AND IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE THAT YOU BE CONFINED FOR 24 HOURS.” Uhuh...that’s why I’m here.

All this time, I was amazed with my mother who was patiently nodding at this loud woman. Really, she was loud, a little louder than Rosanna Roces and Ai-Ai delas Alas combined. But I was more irritated by the fact that I had no idea who she was. So after her very loud speech about my hypoallergenic diet and my “funny” tuna experience (She kept on giggling eh!), I asked her, “And you are?” She looked kind of shocked, paused, then she put on this beauty queen question-and-answer smile and said, “Mitch.” Silence. “Mitch,” I asked. “Mitch Balagtas.”

There you go. So you DO have a name! Wonderful. Next time, please introduce yourself before barging in and waking my neighboring patients. And say good evening to my mother.

***
Friday is bawal day for the car. Hence, we didn’t have a car to pick us up from the hospital yesterday. Mang Gaudio was waiting in my Mom’s office, so we had to get our asses over there so that we could go home. Now my Mom’s is definitely a strong woman, very smart, very hardworking...but also very, VERY girl.

World City Medical Center is along Aurora, across Anonas, it’s in Cubao man! Cubao equals hell!!! My Mom offers to go across the street to get a cab, but no, no, no! She was very pretty in her light cardigan and tiny sandals, so there was absolutely no way that I was going to let her hail a cab in that, especially since she hasn’t been commuting for years.

We both walked across the street and while waiting for a cab, I realized that my Mom really needs a lot of caring. She needs a man. Hehe. But seriously, my Mom is extremely girl, people wonder why my sisters and I walk like boys. She’s also looks very young for her age and she has many admirers. It kind of pained me to see her study the Cubao area. She was looking around and she had this facial expression that read “my daughter goes through this everyday?” I didn’t know what to say to her, so I said nothing. Then we both had a smoke as if it was our silent way of saying “shit, Cubao really sucks” together.

Ack! I just got out of the hospital today. Darn tuna. I'll post more stuff tomorrow or Sunday.

Took some time to steal some pics from Alexis, though. Still waiting for Chris to have the other pics developed. Thanks, guys! :)

Good night. And good luck to Ateneo tomorrow.

>Enneagram Test Results.


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hmmm...i'm still a 2.

>Totoo na 'to, birthday ko ngayon!

I woke up freezing on the computer chairs in the office, but the chills disappeared when I saw that Lumos had so many messages. Yipee!!!

A lot of people remembered my birthday this year, more than last year. Felt pretty cool! Every time I saw my phone light up, my face lit up as well and I excitedly checked the messages and said thank you to each and every person who greeted me. There were some unregistered numbers as usual, but I didn't want to ignore them this time. Good thing I save all kinds of numbers in my palm. So I just looked the numbers up, found the names of the senders and thanked them one by one.

It's nice that people remember my birthday every year, but I think I should practice thanking them more. I even got some greetings over the net and in the mail. It was all so overwhelming, my smile reached my ears.

***
My Every Wednesday birthday celebration was a success. A lot of friends came by and we were really rowdy. AND I got a few gifts, too!

Joey Brash gave me the shock of my life when he said, "Here! :)" and pulled out his Upper Box A ticket from his wallet. Yes, people! He gave me his ticket! The ticket he lined up for during the LINE Party. Apparently, he decided to watch the game with his friends in NSG. But still! He lined up for that ticket! I was so overwhelmed that my eyes welled up.

Chris and his family gave me a new wallet and a book entitled The Giver by Lois Lowry. It looks really interesting and I hope to start on it tonight before I sleep. It’s one of Chris’ favorite books and he’s definitely not giving up on making me a book lover. Actually, he’s already accomplished that. The only problem is that I’ve such little time to read; but I will definitely make time for this one.

Quark’s back from New York and he brought a goody supot with him full of pasalaubongs. I got an Ozzy keychain from the show The Osbournes. I haven’t seen the show, but from the looks of my astig little Ozzy, I understand why my mom got weirded out when she watched the show with my sisters the other night.

Everyone's presence was enough to make my heart swell, and little gifts came out of the gathering as night closed in on us. Alexis was the first one to arrive, and since he’s not much of a drinker, his gift was to drink a beer with me. Later on, he bought me a bag of Clover, which Mike ate without my permission. Mike bought me a beer, and Ernan bought me 3 packs of Winston lights. Ramon and Neva drank beer, too, and Lia was able to sip 1/8 out of hers.

Mich wore make up and gave me some strawberry cigs, Goldie gave me a kiss and a stamp on my arm, and Hannah screamed Happy Birthday from her car.

Carlo commuted all the way from Makati, and that was good enough loving for me. Sarah and John passed by for a while, and I made friends with EJ from The Bald Soprano play that I watched in UA&P, and Kris who thinks my blog is cute. Oh, and Jomi and Krissy changed Lumos’ welcome note to Happy Birthday! Sweet.

Alexis was nice enough to give Mike, Ernan, Carlo and I a ride to wherever. Mike and Carlo got off first, and when we got to my office, we stayed in the car a while and listened to Alexis’ music. I really didn’t want the night to end just yet, but I had to get some work done and to catch up on sleep. So after a few slow songs and a little head banging, I finally went back to work.

Now I’m in the office and I’m feeling kind of lonely. The humming of the EVR and the clicking of the computer are a whole lot different from all the laughting in Pearl.

One of the reasons why I’m glad that I went to Ateneo is that I made such great friends and I didn’t let them go, and it’s amazing how our group has stayed together and has even expanded after all this time. I’ve yet to celebrate my birthday with my other college friends and my best friends from high school, but my 2-day celebration will have to do for now, and I must admit that this has been the best birthday so far.

I guess it’s safe to say that turning 23 ain’t that much of a bitch when you’ve got friends and family as cool as mine. :)

***
In the end, it doesn't really matter how many people attended my blow out or remembered to greet me. Right now, it's all about me. Sitting here alone listening to OPM so that the noisy ghosts don't get to me, looking back at how I celebrated my birthday, how i woke up to it, what I made of it, and what I want to do from here onwards. And in all honestly, turning 23 was pretty cool, and I'm pretty excited to live.

*This just in. [Click here] for people born on October 2 (Ghandi et al.) and [click here] for the historical events that happened on this day (Peanuts first appeared on my birthday!).

...I'm going to be in one of these lists someday. Tawurwurwur! :)

Ok, it’s already past the time of my birth, so I’m definitely 23. Wow, 23. Wasn’t that Jordan’s number?

I’ve 23 birthday resolutions for this year:
1. Grow my fingernails.
2. Cut down on the nicotine.
3. Get my cuts back, especially my 6-pack.
4. Grow my hair. I miss my ponytail.
5. Read more.
6. Study the mechanics of different sports.
7. Brush up on my biology and child psychology.
8. Earn more money and save more money.
9. Stop shaking my legs.
10. Drink more water than coke.
11. Don’t just remember other people’s birthdays...greet them.
12. Take note of the little promises you make, like giving someone a call or taking someone to a movie.
13. Be nicer to Max. He’s just a stupid lab, he doesn’t know any better but to drool on you.
14. Get a tan.
15. Get a sport and win something.
16. Go back to Church.
17. Lower my voice and my laugh.
18. Fix the house, darn it!
19. Don’t judge people.
20. Be punctual.
21. Write more.
22. Keep in touch with my friends.
23. Keep in touch with my family.

Syempre I typed this while biting my nails! Di bale. There’re still 22 other resolutions. Happy birthday to me. Yeba! :)

I'm 23! Woohoo!!! Actually, I'll be 23 at 326am pa, but what the hell! Woohoo!!!

By the way, today is also the Feast Day of the Guardian Angels. So please pray to your guardian angels and thank them for their undying love and protection. This day is also extra special for those who have the name Angel such as Angela, Angelica, Angelina (Who remembers that song?!?!), and Angelique. Why? Go figure! Hehe! God bless to everybody, and thanks to those who stayed up to greet me at midnight! Love you all! Mwah! :)

Hoy to the Every Wednesday Group (Bloggers and lurkers alike! You know who you are! :) 3pm Pearl Drive. First round's on me. The second one's on Joey as usual. Haha! Joke lang, Joey. Pero seryoso, I can only afford the first round. And I think that some of us will be eating dinner there, so if you're gonna be late, let us know. See ya!

>A scary taxi discovery.

I got in a taxi and asked to be driven to Diliman, and as expected, the driver didn’t want to take me. I asked why and he said “color coding.” Ha? Taxis are supposed to have yellow plates and are supposed to be exempted from the color coding rule. Apparently, this taxi had a white plate and said that he’d get caught on the highway driving with it. Ok.

My family was still waiting for me to leave and when I got out of the taxi, my Mom walked over and wanted to argue with the driver. Good thing my sisters stopped her and I just got in the next taxi. Bye-bye family.

We were right behind the first taxi that rejected me and the driver had taken in a male passenger. Hmmm...

My friendly driver noticed the taxi in front of us and told me that it was a “kolorum.” I had no idea what he meant by this. I asked him what kolorum meant and he explained that the previous taxi that I had entered was an unregistered taxi. The plate was white and not yellow like other taxis, and the TAXI sign was just stuck to the roof and not mounted on a metal frame. This was the taxi of a private owner and not of an agency, and the danger of taxis like this one is that they are usually involved in hold ups or modus operandis (tama ba?).

My ride back to the office was pretty scary. I saw the MRT overtake us from the left and I thought, maybe I should’ve taken the MRT. But I was a little dressed up, so I didn’t think it was safe to walk from the station to the trikes near DILG. I started biting what was left of my nails and I thought of the way I was living. How much longer can I do this? Go to work at the oddest hours, take public transportation alone at night (at times like this, I wish I had a boyfriend to drive me.) and work overnight on my birthday. Not that I don’t like my job. No, no. I just wish my office was closer to home, or that I had money to buy a car, or it would be really cool if I could just work at home.

So many dangerous things are happening around us and it’s no wonder the US Embassy advised the Goo Goo Dolls to cancel their concert here. Even I’m getting scared, and that’s a rare thing.

>A Chinese Birthday!

I had fun with my family tonight! Celebrated my birthday a day early by watching In the Mood For Love and eating in a Chinese restaurant (Gosh, I forgot the name!!!).

We missed the beginning of In the Mood For Love, but I still loved it. Some people in the theater didn’t appreciate it. Towards the end after the subtitles about the guy’s past being blurry like a dirty window pane, these girls started giggling, “End na? End na? ...End na! Hahaha! Nye! Haha!” Hmph, mga manhid. How could they not feel the sadness of the Cambodia scene? No, really? I’m not a film buff like the rest of my friends are, but I really felt for him!

The soundtrack was really good (Alexis, pahiram! :). My Mom was wondering why they were playing 50s music, though. Our guess was that the 50s music reached Hong Kong in the 60s. But it didn't really matter. I just loved it. One piece with the violin (the one used in one of those watch ads) made me think of a ballet and a jazz routine, even a gymnastics floor routine if it were re-arranged. The best parts where the violin music came in were when they rehearsed breaking up and when Mr. Chow was in Cambodia. Oh, that sequence was so heavy.

I loved Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan’s rehearsals. I also loved her dresses. Wow, they were so beautiful. SHE was beautiful. I was a little bothered by her hair, though, but she actually carried it well and it just grew on me towards the end. The guy on the other hand wasn’t that attractive, but he was sweet and charming. And I loved the scene where he was smoking in his office. I’ve this thing for cigarette smoke lit with one white light in a dark room, like in those gangster movies or police interrogation scenes. It made me want to smoke, too.

***
Speaking of smoking, we went to Sugi after the movie for our 730pm dinner reservation. Unfortunately, they gave us a non-smoking table. My mother had reserved a table early in the morning and she was guaranteed a smoking table, but the lady mixed up the reservations and we couldn’t even be transferred because all the smoking tables had been taken. Her heart was already set on Sugi’s tofu steak, but my sisters and I really wanted to smoke together, and the fact that we couldn’t get a smoking table stressed us out some more, which in turn made us want to smoke more. Sobrang adok, ba?

I was pretty pissed that they just set my Mom’s name aside because I noticed that the now filled smoking area was made up of businessmen in flashy suits and shit like that. Not that I’ve anything against big time businessmen, but...you know where I’m getting at. The lady just kept on saying sorry, we can’t do anything, so I suggested that we just go to another restaurant. The lady fell silent because some food (I didn’t know what they were. Green chips?) and tea were already served, but she understood. I also knew that the table mix up wasn’t her fault, so on my way out, I just gave the lady with the logbook at the door a real bad dagger look. You set my Mom’s name aside, you toothpick (sorry, she was skinny eh. :)

So we moved to a nearby Chinese restaurant (What was the name? I think it was Gloria Maris or something.). I asked for my favorite Yang Chow Rice and Lemon Chicken. Oh, and coke, of course. We also had Birthday Crispy Noodles. Apparently, the Chinese believe that you should eat noodles on your birthday for “long life.” My sisters ordered lots of other stuff, but they ordered too much for my tummy. I just realized that I don’t eat as much as I used to. They even had taho! But I really didn’t have any more space for dessert. Baka pumayat na kasi ako, kaya lumiit ang tiyan. Nyahaha!

Dinner was fun. Bianca smoked with us because it was a special occasion (She quit a few years back), so we had a smoking sisters picture care of Chris’ camera (Thanks for the camera, Chris! :), which Carla was tinkering with but couldn’t really figure out. Mas sanay siya sa mga camera ng 19 kopong-kopong. We talked about a lot of funny stuff (Bianca held up Mama’s cigarette butt and pointed at the lipstick mark saying “someone’s been here.” Haha! In the Mood hangover!), and when we got too loud, our Mom admitted that one of her greatest fears is being humiliated by her children. So I told her that I had an audition today and that I said yes to showing my boobs on film. Haha! Of course, she bought it for like 5 seconds lang (she’s a bit of a gulli-calf, like ME!). Then we started talking about all the crazy gimmicks we used to do in college and she kind of laughed because she only finds out about stuff like this on our birthdays. I think she found out we cheated in high school when Carla turned 25. Hehe!

I had to go back to work, so they walked me to a taxi in front of Greenbelt and saw me off, as if I was going out of town or to the airport or something. That’s when I felt a little sad.

***
I’m in the office right now and I’m going to be here ‘til Thursday. I enjoy life on the fast lane, but it seems that I’ve forgotten how to rest. It’s been a while since my sisters and I went to bed at the same time and talked all night waiting for Mommy to come into the room to tell us to shut up. Hay, something tells me I’m going to stay home this weekend. I’ll probably watch Game 3 on TV with Carla screaming La Salle cheers and me just screaming (coz I don’t know the Ateneo cheers). Bianca will just piss us off by shouting UP! once in a while. :)

>bye bye goo goo

The Goo Goo Dolls aren't coming anymore because the US Embassy advised them that it's too dangerous here. Ouch.

Now the Red Hot Chili Peppers are from the States, too. Does this mean they're going to be advised the same thing? You think they'd follow the embassy's advice? I'm only saving money for their concert. :(

Talk about bad publicity for the country. Argh! I hate this. The Philippines is dangerours, blah blah blah. Shit.

>stupid me.

Last week, I kept on telling people that my birthday was on Tuesday. But no, it's on Wednesday pala! Thanks to Lia and Gina for correcting me when we retreated to good ol' Katipunan for dinner after Game 2. Imagine, I almost missed one last day of being 22! How horrible! Reminds me of when one of my friends thought that she was turning 25 (also this October), which confused me because she's only supposed to be a year older than me. My other friends who were her age were confused as well (Kutob mo?). So we were arguing and computing and I went nuts not remembering that I had already celebrated a 23rd birthday that I don't remember. Finally, I got a calendar and yes, I was only 22, and my weirded out friend 23. Sigh. The things that happen when you're bangag at 3am in the smoking pit.

***
>all is still good. :)

Even if my previous posts were pretty sad and serious, this was still a good day. :)

ABS-CBN called us up to tell us that we were nominated by the CMMA for Best Sports Show. Yipee! Sports Unlimited was nominated as well, along with some other shows I don't know of. I'm a little scared of Sports Unlimited because they have a huge following, but the CMMA picked our Sea Games 2001 Special and I think that the special will do well. The awarding will be on October 12. Hay, the pressure. Oh, and what the hell am I gonna wear? And...I've to work out!!! (Yes, the things girls think about for awards nights.)

Haha! I remembered how funny it was picking which eps we were going to submit to CMMA. I mean, they're all preists, right? Aw, this one's dramatic. Too fast. Too weird. Op, did he just say bastartd?!?!

Another goody is that I finally for my new cellphone from Tricia. Wahoo! It's a second-hand Nokia 6210 and it "clicks like a dream!" It's so light and so cute and man is the memory huge! I named him Lumos para pag-brown-out, "Lumos!" I'm going to miss my 3210, though, because the case is really cute. I think I'll keep the case for sentimental reasons (My boss gave it to me.).

Last! Since I've to work on my birthday, my family decided that we'd celebrate in advance by watching In the Mood for Love in Greenbelt tonight. Yipee! So many people have told me to see this movie and I'm finally gonna see it, and with my family at that. I'm pretty excited. We're also going to have dinner after. I thought about it the whole day and I decided that I wanted to eat in TGI Friday's, Glorietta. I have many fond memories there, especially when the birthday dessert used to be carrot cake. I think they just give ice cream now (I remember being there with Jon and i told the waiter that it was his birthday only because he wanted dessert and we had no more money on us. :) I just want my bottomless coke (I'd drink beer, but I've to rush back to work after celebrating.), my mozzarella sticks, and chips with that green dip thingy. Yummeh!

I was actually thinking of just eating in Goodah Paranaque, but I think my Mom would kill me. :P

***
>the LINE party!

I just got one of the funniest texts from Ernan during dinner. He asked me if I was going to the Line Party. Now what the hell's a Line Party? He replies that he's going to line up in Araneta Coliseum at 4am for Game 3 and they're all going to make it a party. Haha! Man, 4am? That's crazy! That's like Ateneo reg in Joey's time! (No offense, Joey! :)

I'm not watching the game in Araneta. I'm too scared to watch it live. I'll probably watch in NSG or something (Joey, are you watching in NGS? Or are you getting tickets, too?). I can't take the pressure, plus I'm always torn anyway. So I'll just lay low. Besides, I think I'm bad luck. Hay, weird is me.

>crazy times.

A young GMA reporter named Carlo Lorenzo was kidnapped by the MILF. He did a story in Mindanao and asked for an extension. Apparently, one of his contacts promised him an exclusive with the Indonesian hostages. The cameraman left because he knew that it was too dangerous. For some reason, Carlo was allowed to stay behind, and he climbed a mountain with his contact, probably to get to the hostages.

That was Saturday, and he hasn’t been seen since.

When Howie Severino did a story in Lamitan, Basilan called May Storya Nga, Patay Naman Tayo! for The Probe Team last year, he and other mediamen from GMA were caught in a major crossfire. They had to be evacuated and they almost didn't get through one of the checkpoints. One reporter got lost in the crossfire, but he was lucky to have been able to hitch a ride with a soldier. After this incident, people concluded that if it’s dangerous for the media, then it must be really bad. The MILF usually welcomes the media and gives them special treatment, knowing that they just want to do a story on the situation. In Lorenzo’s case, though, things seem to have changed. Lorenzo may have wanted this inside scoop to boost his career. I just hope it doesn’t cost him his life.

Whew, what a busy weekend. I still need to catch up on sleep.

***
>oh my, another ball sport.

Got to sleep for 2 hours before heading to CRC...ay! My bad. UA&P (It’s just so confusing sometimes.) for the 3rd All-Women Futsal Grand Prix last Saturday. It was also my third time to shoot the darn thing, but it was a really exciting day, and I enjoyed seeing how much the teams have improved. I also liked it when the players actually remembered me and I could say hi with a lot of zeal and not feel embarrassed about being too cheerful. But I was more sleepy than cheerful, so I spent most of the day remembering players and writing down the plays. Taking mental notes while you’re bangag is no-no.

Alexis came in the late afternoon, followed by another friend named Mark. The two of them got along with Tricia really well. Mark even knew her brother Dondi! So this made me really happy because at least Tricia had good people to talk to while I was paying attention to the games (I really don’t like it when the hosts get bored). They even bought yosi for us! (Thanks, Alexis! But I think I still owe you 10 bucks. :)

The night before, I realized that this was going to be my first shoot since the Nike Finals last Sept. 1. That’s why I slept so late because I was so nervous, I didn’t know if I could still shoot properly and I didn't know what angle I was going to take for the story. Part 1 last September was a futsal 101. Last March was more of the why people come back slash join type. So all I was left with was the blow-by-blow kind, which meant knowing the plays. Shit, I didn’t know the plays. I never played soccer. It was like 3on3 all over again: What the hell am I watching?!?!

I’ve always wanted to do a story that was similar to ESPN’s blow-by-blow coverage. The only problem is that ESPN airs the whole darn event, and they know everything about the players and the coaches and the plays and the history of the teams. I, on the other hand, have only 6 to 7 minutes to say what happened to 10 teams who played 4 games each. Add 2 semifinal games and 2 final games and whoa, 24 games! I think...I’m really bad with numbers.

After weeks of trying to study basketball, I’m now going to study the mechanics of soccer. And I thought I was jock. I know shit about sports.

***
>i wore a blue shirt this time.

Blue shirt, blue jacket, blue jeans, blue socks, AND blue shoes (kulang na lang blue udnerwear). I wore this “obvious bang manonood ng Game 2?” attire all the way from Alabang to Araneta yesterday. Unfortunately, I came out of the Cubao MRT train and walked into a sea of green people. Shit. (A little background on why I said shit: I used to be a varsity player for La Salle Zobel.).Gie’s boyfriend Allan was actually in the station and he said that I actually snobbed him, probably because I just didn’t recognize him. I usually have this masungit leave me alone face when I’m commuting, and I think I was extra masungit because of all the La Sallians around me. Wala bang ibang Atenistang nagko-commute?!?!

I ran to Araneta Coliseum to look for Chris, Maggie and Alexis...actually, any Atenean I knew so that I wouldn’t be lonely. Instead, I found a lot of La Salle friends who all had this initial reaction to hug me...until they saw the color of my shirt. Ba’t ka naka-blue? I knew this was going to happen. Even talking to Bro. Mawel was weird because I was in my blue shirt and he was in his habit and we were talking about Search-In. And in the back of my mind: Alia, anong kulay ba talaga?

But I really decided to go blue. No more neutral white shirt nor emergency green jacket. I feel that Ateneo has the right mix this year and that La Salle’s been on top for way too long. Now if only our players could free throw...we lost so many points because of all the stupid free throws! How many did La Salle miss? One (I think it was Cardona.)?

I think that Ateneo should learn from La Salle. Not only does La Salle have good players on the court, it has a deep bench as well. Notice that any La Salle player can fire it up on the court. The Ateneo players, however, always tire out, and the bench players don’t seem to be as good as the regulars. But we need to have a deep bench. If not deep, then at least much better than what they have now (I don’t even know how good there are because they hardly play anyway. What’s up with that?) Villanueva practically played all four quarters! I think he got a few minutes of rest in the fourth quarter, but that wasn’t enough. Quimpo and Tenorio were always switching, but there’s a big difference when Tenorio’s burning rubber across the court. Ateneo should also learn not to be intimidated by La Salle’s giants and its brutal audience (By the way, 95% of all La Sallians know their cheers and alma mater by heart. 50% of Ateneans, including me, don't know any.).

I really believe that we lost because of the missed free throws. Ateneo’s free throw percentage was something like less than 50%. That’s really bad. If Ateneo can work on its free throws (Which I think is really basic. Shaq was a monstrous shooter, but even he got shit for not being good with free throws. It’s a must I tell you!), work on its bench players, zone out La Salle’s crowd, and stop getting pikon with the La Salle players’ tactics and pride (Most of all pride.), then they’ll have a chance to win in Game 3.

*In all honesty, though, Ateneo should’ve just gotten it over with and won Game 2. Their chances in Game 3 are nil. Ateneo may be hungry for the win, but La Salle's mad, REAL mad. And even if La Salle would be willing to step down, they’d never step down to Ateneo. Never. I know this because I used to think this way.

*For Pinoy Central's full story on Game 2, [click here].